Tsai losing support of female business leaders: poll

President Tsai Ing-wen is losing the support of female business leaders, according to a new poll released Tuesday.

In the poll of 173 female executives, conducted by Global Views Monthly and Women on Boards, only 17.9 percent of respondents said they were satisfied with the president's performance over the past six months, with 82.1 percent saying they were dissatisfied.

The president scored an average of only 38 out of 100 for overall governing performance. 15 respondents gave Tsai a score of zero for a number of questions.

The magazine suggested a discrepancy between expectations and reality and the impact of the overall social climate as the main factors behind Tsai's low support

Many of the respondents believed Tsai to be struggling in all areas. The president scored an average of 40 for management ability, 41 for communication, 39 for mobilization and 37 for leadership.

Tsai fared worst in perceptions of her policy-making ability, scoring an average of 31.

Respondents, however, expressed favorable views of the president's character, giving her an average of 51 out of 100.

The business leaders expressed extreme dissatisfaction with Tsai's cross-strait policy of "maintaining the status quo," giving the president an average score of 28.

Respondents were also skeptical of the much-lauded pivot to Southeast Asia, giving the president an average score of 35 points.

When asked what areas the president could improve upon, over 60 percent of respondents chose "sustainable long-term planning ability," while 20 percent suggested Tsai work on her communication skills.